We bought a new home and will be moving in about two months. My in-laws are very involved in renovating and decorating the house. They told me it would be really nice if we got a joggling board for our porch, and they said it like it was something I should already know about. I pretended that I did, and now it feels too late to ask. Can someone please tell me what it is and what I’ve gotten myself into?

If you have found yourself nodding along in sympathetic panic, don’t worry. You haven’t accidentally agreed to host a high-intensity circus act or an aggressive lawn sport on your front porch. Here is the lowdown on what a joggling board actually is, where it comes from, and why your in-laws might actually be handing you the ultimate porch upgrade.

Unpacking the Mystery: What is a Joggling Board?

Despite the chaotic-sounding name, a joggling board is actually a historic piece of outdoor  furniture. Think of it as a beautiful, low-tech precursor to the porch glider or rocking chair.

Originating in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina (specifically the historic town of Mt. Pleasant) in the early 1800s, a joggling board consists of a long, flexible wooden board—traditionally made from supple Southern Yellow Pine—suspended between two heavy wooden rocking supports on either end.

Because the central board is long and thin, it naturally bows downwards in the middle. When you sit on it, you can gently bounce up and down (the “joggle”) or rock side-to-side.